A heavily traveled section of Route 114 disappeared into the Sticky River Sunday evening as rainfall and melting snow pushed tons of water through the culvert beneath the road surface. Only moments before the collapse, vehicle traffic was still using the road, and disaster was averted only because emergency personnel were in place.
On Monday morning, signs were in place to warn motorists that the roadway was closed. Area residents avoided their normal traffic pattern by taking Boundary Road and Oak Hill Road to circle the problem. The detour cost motorists an additional 10 to 15 minutes drive time.
Maine Department of Transportation workmen at the site said they expected to have the state road reopened by the end of this week.
Newly delivered sections of a larger culvert system were sitting close by, and compared to the old culvert, deposited by the rushing waters in the river, appeared to be about double the size. The bigger culvert will not dislodge as easily, because it will handle a larger volume of rushing water.
According to Cumberland County Sheriff’s dispatch records, Peter Gilchrist, a Standish firefighter, was at the Sticky River site on Sunday evening after hearing radio traffic that reported a foot of water running across the road. The call came in at 11:39 p.m., but records show Gilchrist made the next call at 11:51 p.m., and said the road had collapsed.
Bob McKenna, Standish dispatcher, said the call that came in from Gilchrist demanded, “Get some people out here quick!”
In a phone interview, Gilchrist said, “I had just let a van cross through the water and I had that vehicle stay in the middle of the road. There was about a foot of water running over the road. About three minutes later I stopped a compact car from crossing. Suddenly there was a loud banging underneath the road. I backed up about 10 feet, and then rocks and dirt went shooting out to my right. I watched the asphalt buckle and drop into the water. The road just folded in and washed out. The time was 11:51 p.m. and I had only been there for 10 minutes or so.”
The National Weather Service in Gray reported that the area received an average of 2.5 inches of rain in the storm. Flood watches and alerts were posted throughout the weekend due to the added water from melting snowpack.
James Ledoux, a local commuter who lives in Sebago said, “The detour is not too bad. Yes, it is a bit inconvenient, but nothing I can’t put up with just by going around that area.”
Jessica Dame, who works at Jordan’s Store in Sebago thought that store business was about the same since the road washed out as before, and said, “It seems like any Monday. We are busy, but not any busier.”
Rt. 114 traffic this week was stopped by a rift caused by heavy rains and melting snow.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
